Vintage Sancai-Glazed Ceramic Elephant Garden Seat Side Table, Chinese 1920s

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A richly glazed ceramic elephant garden seat or stand, dating to the Republic period (circa 1920s–40s). Hand-molded and painted with … Read more A richly glazed ceramic elephant garden seat or stand, dating to the Republic period (circa 1920s–40s). Hand-molded and painted with sancai-style glazes in amber, cobalt, and celadon, with floral relief panels on each side. The flat octagonal top bears the traditional Shuangxi (Double Happiness) character, a symbol of auspicious blessings and joyful union. This substantial piece measures 20" high, making it an impressive choice as a side table, plant stand, or decorative accent. The elephant form, a classic Chinese motif, symbolizes wisdom, peace, and good fortune and ready for your home or garden.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: Elephant-form garden seats like this were crafted from lead-glazed earthenware, a technique perfected in southern China for the Western export market. The Shuangxi (Double Happiness) symbol atop this example is highly unusual; while typically reserved for wedding porcelains, its appearance here suggests a specific commission for an overseas Chinese family—likely returning from Southeast Asia—who wished to blend domestic utility with auspicious symbolism. Because lead-glazed earthenware remained porous even after firing, artisans would sometimes line the interior with a thin rice-starch slurry before glazing—a nearly lost technique intended to stabilize the glaze color and prevent pitting. Surviving examples that retain crisp glaze pooling and intact symbolic motifs, like this one, are increasingly scarce.

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